Anti-tampering composition and methods of use therefore

Abstract

The instant disclosure relates to an anti-tampering composition for use with capsules and corks of a wine closure or other good or article, including a composition comprising a natural wax and an ink present in the natural wax, the composition being suitable for printing on various substrates and having high stability, and having at least 60 wt % natural wax based on the total weight of the composition. Also provided are methods of detecting exposure of an article or good to elevated temperatures, and methods of making an anti-tampering system for a good or article such as a beverage bottle capsule or cork.

1 . A composition comprising:
 a natural wax comprising
 an ink which is present in the natural wax; and 
 optionally a silicate derivative, 
   said composition including at least 60 wt % natural wax and up to 40 wt % ink, based upon the weight of the composition.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the natural wax comprises at least 60 wt % non-glyceride long-chain carboxylic acid esters based upon the weight of the natural wax. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the natural wax comprises at least 60 wt % esters selected from aliphatic esters and/or diesters of cinnamic acid based upon the weight of the natural wax. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the natural wax and the ink are each present in an amount sufficient to obtain an irreversible change in visible appearance of the composition when exposed to a temperature of 80° C. or higher. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the ink forms an image and exposure of the composition to a temperature of 80° C. or higher changes the visible appearance of the image formed by the ink. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the ink forms an image and exposure of the composition to a temperature of 80° C. or higher changes the configuration of the composition such that at least a part of the image formed by the ink is broken down, blemished, or no longer visible. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said ink is selected from ink-jet ink, optically variable ink, flexographic ink, or conductive ink. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the ink further comprises additives, pigments, optical variable pigments, dyes, flakes, water reactive chemical agents or viscosity modifier agents. 
     
     
         9 . A capsule or a cork comprising:
 a composition on at least a partial surface of the capsule or cork, the composition comprising   a natural wax;   an ink which is present in the natural wax; and   optionally a silicate derivative,   said composition including at least 60 wt % natural wax and up to 40 wt % ink, based upon the weight of the composition.   
     
     
         10 . A capsule or a cork according to  claim 9  wherein the natural wax comprises at least 60 wt % non-glyceride long-chain carboxylic acid esters based upon the weight of the natural wax. 
     
     
         11 . A method of detecting exposure to an elevated temperature comprising:
 visually observing an article comprising a composition, the composition comprising a natural wax, an ink present in the natural wax, and optionally a silicate derivative, said composition including at least 60 wt % natural wax and up to 40 wt % ink, based upon the weight of the composition; and   detecting exposure of the article to at least a first temperature based on an irreversible change in appearance of the composition when observed at a second temperature below that of the first temperature.   
     
     
         12 . A method of detecting exposure to an elevated temperature according to  claim 11 , wherein the wherein the ink is selected from ink-jet ink, optically variable ink, flexographic ink, or conductive ink. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the change in appearance is characterized by visible speckles or bubble-like structures. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the ink forms an image and the exposure is detected by a distortion in the visible appearance of the image. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the natural wax comprises at least 60 wt % non-glyceride long-chain carboxylic acid esters based upon the total weight of the natural wax. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the natural wax comprises at least 60 wt % esters selected from aliphatic esters and/or diesters of cinnamic acid based upon the weight of the natural wax. 
     
     
         17 . A process of applying an anti-tampering composition to a substrate, comprising:
 converting a natural wax from a solid state to a liquid state,   mixing an ink, and optionally a silicate derivative, into the liquid natural wax to form an anti-tampering composition; and   applying the anti-tampering composition via a screen printing process to the substrate.   
     
     
         18 . A method of making an anti-tampering system for a beverage bottle capsule or cork, comprising:
 printing a composition on at least a partial surface of the capsule or cork,   wherein the composition comprises a natural wax having at least 60 wt % esters selected from one or more of non-glyceride long-chain carboxylic acid esters, long-chain aliphatic esters, and cinnamic aliphatic diesters, and an ink present in the wax, and   wherein the natural wax and the ink are each present in an amount sufficient to obtain a change in visible appearance of the composition when exposed to a temperature of 80° C. or higher.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said ink is selected from ink-jet ink, optically variable ink, flexographic ink, or conductive ink. 
     
     
         20 . A tamper-proof article including an indicator composition, the indicator composition comprising:
 a natural wax which is present in an amount of at least 60 wt % of the indicator composition,   an ink which is present in the natural wax in an amount up to 40 wt % of the indicator composition; and   optionally at least one silicate derivative present in an amount up to 10 wt % of the indicator composition.